Faculty Profiles: Dr. Jerry C. Ross

Dr. Jerry C. Ross

Education:

Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
M. Div., The School of Theology, Virginia Union University
B.A. in Religious Studies, Randolph-Macon College

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It was the 1971 high school state championship game at the University of Virginia. As the game clock ticked off those final seconds, Jerome Ross (religious studies) readied for victory. Maggie L. Walker High School of Richmond, VA -- and his team -- had just captured the men's basketball
state championship title.

For Dr. Ross, that win was a glorious moment in history -- for two reasons: not only had his team seized the title, but Dr. Ross also was introduced to former R-MC basketball coach Paul Webb.

"Somehow, he'd heard about little-old me,"  said Dr. Ross, whose 6-foot-8-inch frame truly qualifies him as anything but. "He invited me to R-MC for a tour and as soon as I set foot on the campus, I knew it was the right place for me."

For the next four years, while Dr. Ross was a star on the Yellow Jackets' basketball court -- leading the team to regionals both his junior and senior years -- he also was a star in the classroom. In fact, as he states, his academic success likely outshined his basketball abilities -- and that was fine with him.

"I was focused on my education," said Dr. Ross, the first in his family to attend college.

"I loved basketball but I knew it would eventually end and I would need something else solid to stand on -- in this
case, my liberal arts education."
 
And it was that solid, liberal arts education that Dr. Ross attributes to his success today. After graduating from R-MC in 1975 with a degree in religious studies, Dr. Ross went on to pursue his master's of divinity at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. He then went on to the University of Pittsburgh, where he began pursuing his doctorate and further exploring his area of expertise, the Hebrew Bible.

But, after nearly 25 years as a "student," Dr. Ross decided to take a much needed break from the classroom -- at least in one sense.

He traded a seat at the back of the room for a seat at the front -- and accepted a teaching job at Virginia Union, where he remained for the next 24 years. In between teaching, Dr. Ross completed his doctorate and also became pastor of Providence Park Baptist Church in Richmond. All the while, though, Dr. Ross kept in touch with his former professors and colleagues at Randolph-Macon, a connection that paid off in 2006 when Ira Andrews and then President Roger Martin approached him about an open position in the college's religious studies department.

"I accepted the position and am thrilled to be back at R-MC," said the Richmond native. "I'm also happy that the school has not just maintained its quality since I was here, but has expanded it.  It feels great to be a part of this tradition in this new way."